Electronic component attaching mechanism



Oct. 21, 1958 a. A. GAGNON ELECTRONIC COMPONENT ATTACHING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1957 INVENTOR.

Geo/ye a5 fiayfiaiz flu Arm/ME); I

Oct. 21, 1958 e. A. GAGNON 2,857,035

ELECTRONIC COMPONENT ATTACHING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Georyefl 5497202;

ATTORNEY Oct. 21, 1958 G. A. GAGNON 7,

. ELECTRONIC COMPONENT ATTACHING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWII. wi l I United States Patent ELECTRONIC coMPoNENT ATTACHING MECHANISM George A. Gagnon, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, Ill.,a corporatiouof Delaware Application January 18, 1957, Serial No. 635,066 8 Claims. c1. 198-19) This invention relates to an automatic machine providing a row of stations forming a course through which a printed circuit blank may be passed. The blank receives circuit components in each of the stations as more fully described in my copending applications Serial No.

573,977, filed March 26, 1956, and Serial No. 614,868,-

Although machines of the above general description areknown in the prior art, the features of the machines Which permit removal of blanks therefrom befOre the blanks have completed theircourse through the machines,

involve numerous parts, are expensive of manufacture, and are not remotely controllable as in the present invention.

By the present invention, remote control is provided for stopping the machine when removal of a blank therefrom is desirable. Also, facilities for releasing the blank from the machine are simplified and are more convenient than corresponding mechanisms of previously made machines. v

Other advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by, practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means ofth'e instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the ap pended claims.

In the drawings: i Fig. lis a fragmentaryside elevational view of'a portion of printed circuit machine in which the invention is incorporated; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, drawn to an en; larged scale, of ,the conveyor pin support;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary verticalsection, drawn to an enlarged scale, taken on line3--3 of Fig. 1;

'Figs. 4 and 5' are sections corresponding to Fig. 3,?

parts thereof being shown in differing positions;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the'stop mechanism; v v

Fig. 7 is a perspective view. of a printed circuitblank to which circuit components may beattachedby the machine; and 5 a Y Fig. 8 is afragme'ntary side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention. a While the invention is susceptible of use in other machines where an object or plate-like blank is moved through a row of stations in each of'which a part is afiixed to the blank, the invention will be illustrated in connection with a machine for afiixing electronic circuit components, including "cross-overs, condensers, resistors, etc., to a printed'circuit board or blank, the blank being a'plate of" electrically non-conductive material such as Bakelite on onesid of which eonductors are 'fo'rnied by a-pr'ocess knownto the"trade" as printing, which 'will not be described herein. One such blank B, Fig. 7,,is ap- Patented Oct. 21, 1958 proximately ,4 of an inch in thickness. It may be rectangular and have, at least at one of its marginal edges, a plurality of comparatively large holes 8 to receive locator or retainer pins, later to be referredto specifically, for retaining the blank in the machine. formed with a multiplicity of fine holes 9 to receive the The blank is also lead wires of components which may be clamped to the blank by clinching of the lead wires on the lower side of the blank by the machine.-

' No attempt will be made to'describe the entire ma-.

chine, in detail, since it forms the subject matter of the above mentioned copending applications. It should be shown, having a vertical side to which a plurality of stated, however, that the machine includes a frame, not

plates or pads ll are rigidly secured in uniformly spaced relation to each other. One of the pads 11 is disposed at eaclf of 'a'plurality of component affixing stations, at;

the course a component clinching head 13 is arranged in cooperative association with eachof the component affixing heads. To the pads 11 isfixed, in superimposed relation, a horizontal bearer rail 14- of substantially; rectangular cross-section as bearing support for a push rod or transfer rod 16 superimposed thereon. Bearing support against displaceme'nt of the rod 16 to the left, Fig. 3, is provided by a plurality of spaced-apart vertical fingers 19 on the upper ends of the pads 11, the fingers including hold-down portions 20 extending over the rod 16. Lateral displacement of the r0d 16 to the right with,

respect to the rails 14 is precluded by a series of spaced-'1 apart links 33 with which the rail16 is in bearing association. The structure and purpose of the links 33 will .be described hereinafter. The rod 16 is therefore, an.

' ranged to be moved longitudinally thereofand this is carried out by a horizontal fluid'pressure motor 17, having a piston rod 18 coupled to thefrod 16 in ,any suit able manner.

Beside the rod 16 is a track member orverticallyj the. blanks B are carried betweenan extreme lower .posi; tion, Fig. 5, and an extreme upper positi0n, Fig. 3, by means to be described hereinafter. When in its lower.

position, a blank B is impaled by apairof vertical locator pins .27; when in its upper positionthe blank is impaled by an upper vertical locator pin 28, the pins being formed to pass freely through the holes 8 in the blank.

The lower pins 27 are, bracketed to the rail 14 and 1 formed to freelyextend upward through bores 29 in the ledge 26 to an elevation adequate to pass through the holes 8 when the blankiis in itslowest position, Fig. 5.-

When the blank is carriedupward it is stripped from the lower pins 27' and then threaded over the upper pin 28;, the lower end of which is spaced by more than the thickness of'ablank from the-level of the upper ends of the;

lower pins 27." This elevation of theupper pins 28 relative to the -lower pins 27 is uniform since the upper pins 28 are fixed to inverted L-shaped, composite brackets 31 in turn rigidly securedto the push rod 16. The upper pins 28 are therefore movable laterally with the rod 16.

For thisto be possible, they extend into a clearance.

3 groove 32 in the ledge 26 when the blank is in its uppermost position.

Provision is made for adjusting the upper pins 28 laterally thereof. For this to be effected, each of the composite brackets 31 comprises an upright member 30 having upwardly thereof a lateral arm 31 and at its base a key portion 32' received in one of a plurality of shallow keyways 33', spaced longitudinally of the rod 16, and receiving therein the key portion where it is secured by an anchor screw 34', the latter extending freely through a slot 35 in the member 30 and being threaded in the rod 16. The member 30 may therefore be moved longitudinally of the rod 16 when the screw 34 is loosened and alternately clamped thereby in a selected position. The slot 35 opens into an enlarged recess 36' formed to accommodate the head of screw 34'. The recess 36' has a lateral extension 37', continuing to the free end of arm 31, in which is received an extension arm or pin carrier 38' from the outer end of which the pin 28 extends downward. The carrier 38, in turn, is releasably connected to the arm 31' by a screw 39' passing freely through a slot. 40' in the carrier 38 and threaded in the arm 31'. The screw 39, when loosened, permits the pin 28 to be moved transversely in the clearance groove 32 to a selected point where the pin is clamped by tightening of the screw 39'.

For support of the rail 23 and for its vertical movement,

each of the brackets 22 is of U-shaped transverse section.

It is bolted to the pad 11 and embraces a vertical link or support 33 to the upper end of which the, rail 23 is fixed. The lower end of the link 23 is bifurcated at 34 to freely embrace a rectangular cam plate 36 fixed to a lower push rod or operating rod 37. The latter is arranged to be reciprocated in a horizontal course defined by a plurality of bearings 38, of U-shaped vertical section, one of which is fixed to each of the pads 13 to embrace the sides of the rod 37 at the base thereof. The cam plate 36 is formed with a diagonal cam slot or positive motion cam 39 through which a horizontal pin or follower 40, carried by the link 33, extends. The weight of the rail 23, and blanks thereon, is therefore carried by the cam 39. Therefore, longitudinal movement of the rod 37 is accompanied by vertical movement of the rail 23. This accompanies operation of a motor 41, preferably of the fluid pressure variety havinga piston rod 42 extending from a piston 43. The rod 42 is coupled to the rod 37 by means including a bifurcated link or coupling 44.

In operation, assuming that a blank Bis inthe track 24 to the left thereof, Fig. 1, where it is in itsuppermost position, the blank is slid along the track until it is directly under a component afiixing head 12 and directly over a lead clinching head 13, fully described in the applications aforesaid. When in this position the operation of the motor 17 is interrupted and sequentially the rail 23 is lowered by operation of themotor 41 to strip the blank from the upper pin 28 and thread the holes 8 over the lower pins 27 as the blank is carried to its lowermost position. When therein, the component affixing head 12 is operated to apply a component to the blank and during this operation the mechanism 13 operates to clinch the leads of the component under the lower side of the blank. Then in automatically timed relation to the component afiixing operations, the motor 41 is operated to move the rod 37 to the right and thus the blank iscarried from its lower to its upper extreme position. Following the arrival of the blank in the latter position, it, with the component attached, is slid along the track 24, by sequential operation of the motor 17, until the blank is in the next adjacent component afiixing station, where another component is added to the blank by apparatus similar to what has just been referred to and in a manner as indicated.

The foregoing mechanism is in common with the ap- I paratus described in the applications referred to above.

dealt with.

It is sometimes desirable to remove a blank from its course through the machine. One reason for this may be due to a defect in the coupling of a circuit component to a blank at one of the stations. Therefore, means is provided for stopping the rail 23 intermediate its two extreme positions, Fig. 4, at which the level of the groove 24 is intermediate the lower ends of the upper pins 28 and upper ends of the lower pins 27. When a blank is carried to this position it is out of engagement with both upper and lower pins and may consequently be manually removed from the support of the track member 23 and, if need be, replaced by another blank. The means for interrupting movement of the rail 23 at this intermediate position includes a yoke or U-shaped member 48. It is normally free from the motor 41 because it is below the rod 42. The yoke is fixed to the upper end of a piston rod 49 of -a vertical fluid pressure motor 51 which, in turn, is fixed to an upright member 52 on the side of the frame, not shown. Also, the motor 51 is so arranged relative to the motor 41 that when the piston rod 42 is moved to the right for an adequate distance and the yoke 48 then moved upward, the piston rod 42 is embraced by the yoke as in Fig. 1. When thus embraced, the rod 42 is limited in the extent to which it may be moved backward; that is, to the left, since the yoke is arranged to space the link 44 from the motor 41. While so spaced, the rod 37 maintains the rail 23 at an elevation intermediate its extreme positions, as indicated in Fig. 4.

As indicated, the motor 51 is operated by fiuid pressure. Preferably its operation to move the yoke 48 upward is by compressed air, against the resistance of spring pressure internally of the motor 51, which when pressure of the air is relieved, moves theyoke in its normal lowered position. The air, at an elevated pressure, is conveyed to the motor 51, from any convenient source, by a pipe line 52 and 53 in which a valve 54 is connected, the valve being operated by a solenoid 56 in combination therewith. Additional means for control of the yoke 48 comprises a convenient source of electrical power such as the secondary 57 of a transformer 58 having leads 59 and 61 extending therefrom. One of the leads. 59 is grounded, while the remaining lead thereof is connected to a switch 62 which is spring biased to open position.

To understand the operation of the switch 62, its structure and mounting should be first noted. It is formed with a body portion 60 from which a tubular member 60' extends horizontally for threaded engagement witha fixed bracket 61' in which the member is further secured by a pair of lock nuts 62'. The member 60' is coaxial with a contactor bolt or screw 63 threaded in anarm 63 extending upward from the rod 37, the screw 63 being additionally secured by one or more set screws 64. When the piston 43 is at its extreme position at the left of the motor 41, the contactor 63 is spaced from a pin 65 journalled for longitudinal movement in the member 60'. The pin 65 is biased outward, i. e., to the left of the member 60' by spring pressure internally thereof so that as the piston 43, in moving from the left, reaches a position intermediate its two extreme positions, the pin 65 is engaged by the striker 63 and thereby moved to the right. By this motion, the switch is closed as it remains throughout the remainder of the forward stroke of the piston 43. The switch 62 also remains closed for a time during the backward movement of the piston from its extreme position, at the right thereof, the pin 65 remaining in engagement with striker 63 due to the spring pressure within member 60'. When the striker 63 has been carried backward from the switch 62 to a point at which the latter was closed, the switch is reopened by disengagement of the striker from the pin. The purpose of the spring cushioned means for closing the switch 62 will be indicated hereinafter. When the switch 62 is closed, a current may flow over a wire 64 connected to the solenoid 56. A second grounded wire 66 is connected to a toggle switch 67, in turn, connected to a nornially open switch 1 connected to thesolen'oid 56 by- ;a wire 71.

desired to remove a blank fromtlie groove 2%,thd' swath" 67 is closed. Then the switch 68 depressed toclosed position. If the piston 43 has been moved forward for an extent insufiicient to'jpermit the "yoke-"tribe inserted between link 44 and the motor 41 or theflink44 is at the backward end of its stroke, the'moto'r 51 does not operate, since the switch 62 remaiiis open. Thelatter is closed only when the'li'nk 44 has been moved away from the motor sufiiciently to admitthe yoke 48 between it and the motor to embrace the'rod 42. -When all three of'the switches areclos'ed concurrently' theI'solenoid"56 is energized to'open the 'va1ve"54.' As a result, compressed air flowing through the pipes 52' and 53 moves the 'yoke upward to its spacing position by operating the motor 51. The yoke 48, of course, serves tosp'ace the link 44' from the motor 41 when 'm'oven' ient of piston 43 has been reversed. In thisstatus the urge of the piston 43 to be moved to the left is accoinpahied by a pinching effect on the yoke by the motor 41 and link 44. This is adequate to retain the yoke between the motor and link after the valve 54 has been closed, consequent to release of manual pressure on the switch 68. It will therefore be apparent that momentary closing of the switch 68 is adequate to initiate operation of the yoke while its cooperation with the motor and link, as indicated, is adequate to maintain this status until biasing force of fluid on the right hand side of the piston 43 is relieved. The yoke is then released for return to its normal position by the spring pressure within the motor 51.

It will now be apparent that owing to the biased status of pin 65 relative to the member 60' that the cam 39 may be carried to the right of the intermediate position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 without altering the closed status of switch 62, yet permitting the striker 63 to be carried into close proximity to the member 60 during movement of the piston 43 to the right.

Besides the control feature just described, a switch 72 is associated with each of the pairs of lower pins 27. The switch is fixed at a level below the lowest level to which a blank is carried by the rail 23. The switch 72 is normally open and has a pin 73 extending upward, in the vertical course of a blank, to an elevation whereat it is adapted to be engaged, and depressed by the blank as the latter is carried to its lowest position for closing the switch. The switch 72 is connected in series with other switch means, not shown, for initiating a component affixing operation of the head 12. It will therefore be apparent that the switch 72 performs the role of a safety device to preclude operation of the head 12 when no blank is in the groove 24 at the time the rail 23 is lowered. Consequently, a component is not discharged from the head 12 if no blank is threaded over the lower pins 27 when the rail 23 is lowered.

A second embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 8 includes a motor 141 having a piston 142 connected to a rail 137 by a link 144. The link 144 is formed with a notch 146 to receive a removable key 147 guided in a course normal to the course of the link 144 by a fixed bearing 149. The key 147, in turn, is coupled with an armature 148 of a solenoid 156 having leads 164 and 171 extending therefrom, the leads corresponding to the leads 64 and 71 of the first embodiment. Normally the key 147 is disengaged from the notch by the force of a tension spring 151 anchored to the armature 148. When, however, the solenoid 156 is energized, the armature 148 is drawn downward into the solenoid, against resistance of the spring 151, urging the key 147 into the notch 146. And the course of the key is so arranged that when it enters the notch 146 the rail 137 is locked in a position wherein an upper rail, corresponding to the rail 23, is stopped in an intermediate position so that when therein detained, a blank may be removed from the rail.

While fewer parts are involved in the. second embodinee/issu ment thereof, I i am aware that extensive other departures '5 1. In a printed circuit machine providing a row of stations in each of which a printed circuit blank having holes at one of its marginal edges may receive a circuit component, an upper vertical pin and lower vertical pins formed to pass freely through the holes, a track member formed with a lateral groove in which a blank may be] received and from which the blank may be cantilevered, said track member being movable from a lower position wherein said lower pins are arranged toretain the blank in the groove by extending through the corresponding holes to an upper position wherein the blank is removed from the lower pins and one of the holes threaded'over said upper pin for securing said blank in the groove;

first support means fixedlysupporting said lower pins'in groups and a group being at each of the stations, second support means supportingthe upper pin at an elevation slightly more than the thickness of a blank above the lower pins, said second support means being reciprocated horizontally in sequence to threading of said blank over the upper pin for said blank to be transferred to the next adjacent station by being slid along the groove by said second support means, and latch means operated in response to a manual operation to detain said track member in an intermediate position by latchably cooperating with linkage coupled to said track member thereby for a blank to be out of engagement with all of the pins at its intermediate position for its removal from said track member.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the latch means is latched and unlatched by a power operated unit.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the latch means includes a pneumatic motor for securing the track member in a latched status and for unlatching said latchmeans therefrom.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the latch means includes a remotely controlled solenoid for 4 latchably securing said track member in an intermediate position.

5. In a printed circuit machine providing a row of stations in each of which a printed circuit blank having holes at one of its marginal edges may receive a circuit component, an upper vertical pin and lower vertical pins formed to pass freely through the holes, a track member formed with a lateral groove in which a blank may be received and be cantilevered in the row of stations, said track member being movable from a lower position wherein said lower pins are arranged to retain the blank in the groove by extending through the corresponding holes to an upper position wherein the blank is removed from the lower pins and one of the holes threaded over said upper pin for securing said blank in the groove, first support means fixedly supporting said lower pins in groups and a group being at each of the stations, second support means supporting the upper pin at an elevation slightly more than the thickness of a blank above the lower pins, said second support means being reciprocated horizontally in sequence to threading of said blank over the upper pin for said blank to be transferred to the next adjacent station by being slid along the groove by said second support means, motive means, a linkage coupling said motive means to said track member for moving it between its positions, and a latch operated in response to a manual operation to detain said track member in an intermediate position by latchably cooperating with said linkage thereby for a blank to be out of engagement with all of the pins at its intermediate position for its removal from said track member.

6. In a machine providing'a row of stations in each of which a circuit component may be applied to a plate-like edges, a track member extending throughout the length ofthe row of stations, said track member being formed with a lateral groove in which the marginal edge is re-' ceived and from which said blank is cantileveredinto the row of stations, said track member being movable between lower and upper extreme positions, a pair of lower pins in association with each of the stations and formed to pass freely through the corresponding holes when said track member is in its lower position for: then retaining the blank in the groove, horizontal support means also extending throughout the length of the row of stations and arranged to be reciprocated for a distance equal to the spacing of the stations, an upper vertical pin supported by said support means at a level above the lower pins by more than the thickness of a blank and being formed to pass freely through one of the holes when said track member is in its upper extreme position and the blank then removed from the lower pins to then retain said blank in said groove along which it may be slid from one station to an immediately next station when said support means is reciprocated, horizontally operating motive means, link means including a cam andfollower coupling said motive means to said trackmember to move said track'member verticallyfand a latch for overcoming the force of the motive means when said track member is in an intermediate position by' being moved into latched relation to the linkage for the blank to be out of engagementwith both'upper and lower pins so that said blank may be removed from said track member. p

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the motive means is a fluid pressure motor having a piston rod and the latch is a yoke arranged to arrest movement ofthe rodat an intermediate point inone of its strokes by embracing said rod and acting as a spacer between said linkage and said motor.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the upper pin is adjustable laterally'thereof to assure passage thereof through a blank when said blank is moved upward after receiving a component.

- No references cited. 

